Machine for feeding crown bottle-stoppers



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

v N. MUSLAR. MACHINE FOR FEEDING GROWN BOTTLE STOBPERS. No. 531,001.

Patented Dec. 18,1894.

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N. MUSLAR. MACHINE FOR FEEDING GROWN BOTTLE STOPPERS.

No. 531,001. Patented Dec. 18,1894.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets -Sheet 3.

j N. MUSLAR. MACHINE FOR FEEDING GROWN BOTTLE STOPPERS.

Patented Dec. 18, 1894.

' Imentor.

\AQ/W M 1" Wtnesses.

I! I J NELSON MUSLAR, OF WEST BOYLSTON, ASSIGNOR TO RICHARD 0 OF BOSTON,MASSACHUSETTS.

PATENT MACHINE FOR FEEDING CROWN BOTTLE-STOPPERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 531,001, dated December18,1894.

Application filed September 15, 1894. Sofia-1N0. 523,093. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NELsoN MUSLAR, a citizen of the United States,residing at West Boylston, in the county of Worcester and State ofMassachusetts, have invented a new and useful Machine for Feeding GrownBottle-Stoppers,-of which the following, together with the accompanyingdrawings, is a specification sufficiently full, clear, and exact toenable persons skilled in the art to which this invention appertains tomake and use the same.

The object of my present invention is to providemechanismforautomatically feeding machines for fixing to bottles thatclass of metalcaps known as crown bottle-stoppers; also, to provide an efficient meansfor automatically separating, conducting and delivering the said crownsor caps in proper consecutive order to the mechanism whereby said crownsare fixed to the bottles.

Another object is to provide a charging pan or hopper having facilitiesfor separating and arranging crown bottle stoppers for delivery inuniform position and order.

Another object is to provide a feeding mech-- anism'for the purposenamed, having means for effecting instantaneous transfer of the crown orcap from the delivering device into the movable crown-holder and beneaththe clinching die, or dies, at proper position for receiving the head ofthe bottle.

These objects I attain by mechanism organized for operationsubstantially, as explained in the following description; the particularsubject matter claimed being hereinafter definitely specified.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of my automatic feedingmechanism in connection with bottle-capping mechanism. Fig. 2 is avertical section of the lower portion of the feed mechanism,crown-holder and attaching mechanism at. line W W on Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a plan of the feed mechanism with the chute shown in sectionat line X, and the crown-holder in section at line Y in Fig. 2. Fig.4 isa front view showing the striker and trip devices. Fig. 5 is a plan ofthe hopper and separating devices.' Fig. 6 is a bottom view of themechanism for rotating the hopsome two inches, more or less.

per. Fig. 7 is a section longitudinally of the separator rim on largerscale, and Fig. 8 is a transverse section of the separator rim.

My feeding mechanism may'be applied to machines such asordinarilyemployed for attaching crown stoppers or metal caps tobottles. The means for, and method of clinching the crowns onto thebottle heads being HEMMAN,

well known, is not included as a feature of my present inventionotherwise than as an element in combination with other parts and is not,in detail, shown and described herein. Referring to parts, Adenotes thestandard and B the vertically movable plunger or head of a crown bottlestopper attaching machine, which plunger is, in practice, moved up anddown to and from the head of the bottle by a foot-treadle and rod, or byother power appliances in the usual well known manner; the distance ofits reciprocative action being 0 denotes the crown-holder, which isscrewthreaded to the lower end of the plunger, and D the clinching die,or dies, supported within the same.

D indicates the top presser mounted within the plungerand provided withsprings for operation in wellknown manner.

My feed mechanism, comprising the inclinedrun, the hopper and operatingparts,

is arranged at the side of the plunger, and is.

supported by a bracket or suitable casting E bolted to the lower part ofthe feed frame and adapted to be clamped to the standard A of theattaching machine in the manner illustrated in Fig. l. The feed framecarries an inclined chute or run-way F, its lower end beingsubstantially level with the crown holder when the latter is in elevatedposition. Theupper part of the chute is provided with a 'reversing bendF and carries the plate F whereon is arranged the rotating pan or hopperG, which latter is adapted for containing, in promiscuous order,a supplyof crown bottle stoppers. The hopper and plate are supported in obliqueposition, the base of the hopper being provided with a rim of separatingdevices, hereinafter described; while at one side of the plate there isa curved channel f loading, at its lower end, into the chute or run-wayF that extends down the reversing bend. The plate F is suitably joinedwith and bolted to the chute F, or formed as a continuous standardtherewith. An arm or lever H is fixed to an axis or rockshaft Hjournaled in bearings on the chute F, and said arm is coupled by asuitable link It with a movable part of the crown-attaching machine, sothat according with the reciprocative action of the plunger B movementwill be imparted to the arm H, shaft 11 and parts connected therewith.In the present instance the link h is connected with a proj ecting ear0' formed directly upon the side of the crown holder 0.

At the lower end of the chute F there is provided a mechanism forpresenting the crown bottle stoppers m in proper position for delivery,one at a time, to the crown holder. Said mechanism consists of a movabledelivery gate I havinga mouth or passway I therethrough of sufficientdimension to contain a single crown bottle stopper. This gate ishorizontally journaled and adapted to rock or swing in a manner to bringits mouth or pass-way int-o alignment with the inclined channel of thechute, and also to a horizontal position (see Fig. 2); the gate beingoperated by an arm 2' and a link J that connects with an arm J fixed onthe end of shaft 11. The under portion of the gate piece is slotted toalford space for the striker or ejector to enter; and its top isprovided with a guard 3 that retains the follow ing crowns w fromsliding out of the chute when the gate is depressed.

The crown-holder C is provided with a lateral opening or pass-way 4 inthat side adjacent to the feed chute, and such opening is brought intoalignment with the mouth of the delivery gate I when the plunger B andcrownholder are elevated, as shown in Fig. 2. In some instances a lightspring 5 can be arranged within the pass-way of the crownholder toobviate any liability of the crowns rebounding as they strike theopposite end of the way; or again, the bottom of the passway can befitted with a slight downward offset to catch the edge of the crowns. Aresilient striker or spring-bar K is arranged to operate with the upwardaction of the arm H for ejecting the crowns a; from the gate I into thecrown-holder. This striker is provided with a suitable prong or end 6for entering the space in the gate and forcing forward the crown, and aresilient portion that affords facility for the instant delivery of theblow and the rebound of the striker end from the gate (see dotted lineFig. 2) so as not to interfere with the rocking movement of the gate.

L indicates a device for straining and tripping the striker, andconsists of an angle lever pivoted at 7 and having a backwardly extendedarm against which the striker or spring-bar K engages, as indicated inFig. 1. Its upwardly extended arm rests against an adjusting screw 8 formaintaining the part at proper position, and a spring 9 is provided fornormally retaining the lever with its rear end elevated. The leverL isbest reinforced with a hard steel contact-plate 10. A buffer 711. ofleather or suitable material is provided on the frame for limiting theforward throw of the striker.

The bottom end of the rovoluble hopper or pan G is provided with anannular separator consisting of a flange G having on its under side aseries of radial partitions or barriers N with spaces betweencorresponding to the dimension of the crown bottle stopper w. The loweredges of the barriers fit close to the bottom plate F and are eachprovided, at their lower part, with laterally projecting lugs or guardsit, (see Figs. 7 and 8) the same being disposed so that a crown bottlestopper can pass freely between the partitions when it lies face upward,(see dotted line Fig.7) but cannot pass when it lies face downward. Thusthe crowns m, promiscuously dumped into the hopper, become separated bythe barriers N and their guards n, as the hopperrim rotates above thestationary inclined bottom plate F and crowns that lie face upward onsaid bottom plate are permitted or caused to slide outward between thebarriers N by reason of the rotative action of the hopper rim and theinclination of thebottom plate, being thereby delivered into the curvedchannel or run f, and thence by gravity pass down into the chute F inregular order face upward, and are turned over at the reverse bend ofthe chute, as indicated, to be presented to .the crownholder facedownward.

The interior of the hopper is best provided with an inwardly projectingannular shelf or guard rib g disposed adjacent to and above the openspaces through which the crowns pass out. Between the barriers N theunder side of said shelf sustains the overlying mass of crowns andprevents their resting upon or interfering with the crowns that are inposition to slide out through the spaces of the separating rim G. Thisguard or shelf 9 greatly facilities the free exit of the crowns from thehopper to the runf. The flange G and run way are best provided with aseries of openings f through which the crowns can be observed.

Plows or turnersPcan be arranged within the hopper in any instancedesired for overturning the crowns. For rotating the hopper aratchet-wheel R is fixed to the axial shaft S. Swing-arms R carryingpawls r that engage said ratchet-wheel,are pivoted on the axis and theirouter ends connected by links t with a slide-plate T mounted inguide-ways on the lower part of the plate F The slide T is con nected bya link T with an arm H joined to the rocking-shaft H or its operatingarm H, so that movement of said arm imparts reciprocative movement tothe slide T; and through the action of the ratchet mechanism, effectsrotation of the hopper cylinder carrying the separator rim, facilitatingthe passage to the ICC run-way of a full supply of .crowns laid intuniform order,'which slide down the chute to the delivery-gate I.

' The operation is as follows The motion for operating the crown-feedingmechanism is derived, through the link it and arm H, from the upward anddownward action of the plunger B and crown-holder 0 when applying thecrown to the bottle and raising the plunger from the bottle, effected inwell known way. The crown bottle-stoppers are placed promiscuous in thehopper G and pass into and down the chute, as above specified. 1 Whenthe plunger is depressed the movement, acting through the connections,swings the deliverygate I into alignment with the channel of the chuteF;- and'a crown slides into the. mouth from said gateinto the lattercomes into barriers thereon with or pass-way thereof. Then as theplunger and crown-holder are again elevated, swinging up the arm 1-l,thegate I moves to a horizontal po; sition carrying within it the singlecrown bottle-stopper, and presentingitin proper position for'transferinto the crown-holder when the alignment with the deliverygate. Theupward movement of the arm H at the same time swings forward thestrikerbar or spring K which is attached to it; and also swings the armH which through the slide T and ratchet mechanism R, effects rotation ofthe hopper G. As the striker K swings forward it comes into contact withthe lever L, and by'the resistance thereof the strikerspring is straineduntil the pressure becomes so great that the lever L is caused to slipand swing downward off the end of the strikerspring, thus tripping orreleasing the striker whichinstantly flies forward, its end entering'the space in the gate 1 and striking the edge of the crownbottle-stopper within the passway of the gate, thereby ejects ittherefrom and shoots it to position within the crown holder (see Fig. 2)ready for attachment to the bottle; which is effected as the plungerdescends and brings the crown holder and clinching dies down uponthebottle-head, the bottle being seated, as indicated by dotted lines Fig.1, upon the stationary support 'V beneath the plunger, in usual manner.

. I claim-- 7 1. The combination with mechanism for attaching crownbottle-stoppers to the tops of bottles; of a feed-hopper comprising thebottom-plate and adjacent revoluble rimhavin g intervening spaces formedfor automatically separating and arranging crown bottle-stoppers, acrown-conducting chute leading from said hopper to the attachingmechanism, the gate controlling the delivery end of said chute, having amouth that receives and singly presents said crowns, and means forprojecting the crown chamber of thecrownattaching mechanism, acting ateach reciprocal movement of said attaching mechanism, substantially asset forth.

2. The combination, of the. crown holder havingv a lateral opening andcarrying suitable dies for crimping the crowns upon the bottle-head, afeed-chute through which crowns are supplied, provided with a gateadapted for individually presenting thesilient rebounding striker thatejects the crown from the delivery-gate into the crownholder, andoperating connections whereby said delivery gate and striker areactuated the purpose set forth.

3. The mechanism for feeding crown bottle stoppers, comprising thefeed-chute, its headplate carrying a hopper, said hopper having thecrown-separating barriers on its annular base-flange, mechanism forrotating said hopper, the rocking delivery-gate journaled at the end ofthe chute, havinga mouth or passway adapted for singly presenting acrown bottle stopper, the ejector-spring or striker, thestriker-discharging trip, the actuating arm, a rocker-shaft andconnections for operating said delivery-gate, striker, and hoppermechanism, combined and operating substantially as set forth.

4. The combination with the reciprocating plunger or head that carriesthe crownclinching dies, in a crown-bottle-stopper attaching machine, ofthe crown-holder detachably secured to said plunger and having aninterior crown-centering chamber with a lateral opening or pass-waythereinto, and an external projecting car, an automatic laterallydelivering feed mechanism for :the crown-bottle-stoppers, and a suitableconnecting link joining the operating-arm of said feed mechanism withsaid ear, and working said feedmechanism in unison with saidcrown-holder and die-carrying head, substan tially as set forth.

5. The hopper provided with the annular separator rim having a series ofpassways or spaces with intervening barriers N formed with laterallyprojecting lugs or guards n thereon for controlling the passage of crownbottle stoppers in uniform order, in combination with the bottom-platehaving the runway 1 at one side, and mechanism for revolving saidseparator rim upon the plate, substantially as set forth. l

6. In mechanism for feeding and attaching crown bottle stoppers, thecombination with the feed chute, its delivery-gate and means forejecting the crown from said deliverygate, and the crown-holder having acrowncarrying space with a lateral pass-way leading thereinto, of acheck-spring 5, or device for retaining the crowns from-rebound within 7the crown holder, substantially as set forth.

7 In'a crown bottle stopper feeding mechanism, the inclined feed-chuteor run-way formed with a reversing bend therein, in combination with ahopper having separator devices that deliver the crown bottle stoppersarranged face upward, and delivery mechanism, substantially. asdescribed, that preto the attaching mechanism sents the crowns with themovement of the crown holder, for

crowns in proper position for delivery, a re- IIC face downward andmeans for placing or atand provided with an upwardly projecting tachingsuch crowns upon bottles. segmental guard 3 that obstructs the runway 8.In mechanism for separating and feedof the chute when said gate isdepressed; in :5

ing crown-bott1e-stoppers, the inwardly procombination with the chute,gate-operating 5 jecting shelf or guard g disposed about the mechanism,and crown ejector, substantially interior of the hopper adjacent to andabove as set forth. the exit spaces; in combination with the hop-Witness my hand this 31st day of August, per G and its separator flangeG, substan- A. D. 1894.

tially as and for the purpose set forth. NELSON MUSLAR. 1o 9. Inmechanism for feeding crown-bottle- Witnesses: stoppers; the rockinggate I having a mouth CHAS. I-I. BURLEIGH,

or interior opening for receiving the crown, ELLA P. BLENUs.

